Liv McCaul, a 25-year-old business owner from North Benfleet, Essex, now urinates through her belly button after a groundbreaking robotic surgery to remove her bladder. The procedure, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK, was necessary after a two-and-a-half-year ketamine addiction left her bladder severely and permanently damaged.
From Horse Injury to Addiction
Liv's spiral into addiction began in 2023 when a horse kicked her in the face during a show jumping event, shattering the roof of her mouth. The traumatic injury led to psychological problems and chronic pain. She started self-medicating with opioids and ketamine, but it was the ketamine that caused the most harm. At the peak of her addiction, she was consuming 15 grams of ketamine daily.
Liv explained: "That for me was very traumatic and left me with a lot of psychological problems. From that, I had a lot of pain relief and was addicted to opioids as well as ketamine, but ketamine destroyed my body more than opioids." She continued using ketamine to help her sleep, but it led to severe health complications.
Irreversible Bladder Damage
During rehab, Liv began passing blood clots the size of her finger and experienced excruciating bladder pain, incontinence, and persistent UTI symptoms. Scans revealed the damage was permanent. She underwent various treatments over a year, including nerve therapy, Botox injections, and bladder stretching, but nothing worked.
In June 2026, Liv underwent an eight-hour robotic procedure to remove her bladder and construct an Indiana pouch using part of her bowel. The internal reservoir is drained by inserting a catheter through a small opening inside her belly button. Liv said: "They took out my original bladder, and it was described to me as if somebody had set fire to it and put it back in my body. It was so severely damaged."
A New Lease on Life
Just weeks into recovery, Liv feels liberated from the relentless pain. She said: "To not feel that pain and the pain I knew healed left me overjoyed, and I broke down in hysterical tears. I was going to get my life back and leave that part behind for a new chapter and feel well every day."
Liv's father funded the surgery, as it was not covered by the NHS. The equipment used had only previously been used on cancer patients. She received aftercare through the NHS at Southend University Hospital and is now learning to self-catheterise through her belly button.
Warning to Others
Liv hopes her story raises awareness about the dangers of ketamine and the importance of seeking help. She said: "It's hard coming forward and admitting you have a problem. I have messages from people in the same situation [asking] 'how do I tell them?' I was dismissed as a young woman with bladder problems. I wasn't asked about ketamine because hospital staff, nurses and doctors were uneducated."
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use, help is available. Call 111 to reach NHS mental health services or visit the Frank website for support.
